Before enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program, physics major Matthew (Matt) Kafker was an academically engaged high school student. To improve his fluency in Spanish and conduct community service, Matt Kafker participated in a service-learning program in Costa Rica.
Within Costa Rica’s borders, a dozen ecosystems exist, ranging from wetlands to high elevation rain forests. To protect its abundance of biodiversity, Costa Rica has designated protected status to more than a quarter of its waters and forests.
Four of these ecosystems are categorized by elevation. Lowland tropical forests thrive at the lowest altitudes and are home to diverse bird species, including toucans and macaws. The middle elevation is populated by evergreen forests and a dense forest floor. Highland forests crop up at elevations exceeding 1500 meters above sea level. These unique ecosystems contain a variety of plant and hummingbird species.
Costa Rica, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, also has several sea ecosystems. Coral reefs can be found along the entire coastline, while wetlands and mangrove forests serve as habitats for monkeys and many species of amphibians and reptiles.
